Sunday, April 22, 2018

It’s now time for round two of the headphone shootout. Now
it’s time for the In-Ear Monitors. And they are some excellent products from
some great manufacturers. They include Creative Aurvana Trio for $149, Klipsch
Reference X12 Neckband for $399, Westone UM Pro 50 for $649, Ultimate Ears UE ll
for $1,199, and the Westone ES80 for $1,899 ($2,187 as tested).

First off is the Creative Aurvana Trio. If you want off the
charts bang for the buck on a tight budget, it’s hard to beat the Creative
Aurvana Trio at only $149. They are a triple driver IEM with Hi-Res Audio
design. A hybrid design is also employed, as they feature balanced armatures
for the hi’s and mids, and a dynamic driver for the lows. The cableis also detachable, and includes in-line mic
and controls.

Features and specs:

Product Type

Wired Headphones

Weight

19 g

Color

Gun metal

Frequency Response

5Hz – 40kHz

Cable Length

1.2m / 3.9ft

Cable Style

MMCX Detachable Cable with Inline Mic
and 1-Button Control

Driver

10mm Bio-Cellulose Dynamic Driver,
Dual Balanced Armature Drivers

Inline Microphone
with Controls

1 button for music playback and
calls, supports iOS and Android phones

The creative Aurvana Trio came in a nice hard plastic box,
with a paper sleeve with photos and specs. The top was clear plastic, so you
could also see the IEM. Opening the box, I was able to see they were also well
made. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal.
Quality of materials used was good, as was the fit and finish. Also included
was the owners manual, additional ear tips, airplane adapter, and a semi-hard
carry case.

Looking at what you get, I’m impressed. Especially for such
a small price tag! It’s a small investment, which is also protected thanks to
the detachable cables. If you ever get a short in the cable, just replace the
cable! The 3-way design at such a small price point is also huge! Let’s see how
they sound.

Eric Bibb: Why Are People Like That-Vocals were natural
sounding and nice and smooth. Bass had nice extension and output. Percussion
was crisp and clean. Harmonica was dynamic. Piano was natural sounding.Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue-Clarinet was very
smooth with good texture and enough resolution to hear the tonguing. Piano was
surprisingly natural sounding. Bassoon had nice midbass extension. Brass was
very dynamic.Earth, Wind and Fire:
Let’s Groove-Vocals were smooth with good texture and resolution. Percussion
was crisp and clean and dynamic. Bass was deep, with good impact and authority.
Claps were also crisp and dynamic. Soundstage was bigger than expected.Katy Perry: Dark Horse-Vocals were smooth and
very natural with good timbre. Bass had excellent depth and output. Claps were
crisp and very dynamic.

Now it’s time for the Klipsch Reference X12 Neckband.
Neckband style headphones have gotten more and more popular, ever since I saw
the first ones from Samsung. They were cheap, and provided great functionality,
with them just hanging around your neck. For sound quality, audiophiles were
left waiting for more. Klipsch has answered the call, and have their own series
of neckband style IEM’s. So whatever your budget, Klipsch has you covered. And
Klipsch has provided their top of the neckband line X12.

The Klipsch Reference X12 Neckband IEM came in a really nice
looking box. There is a color photo and specs. The front has a clear plastic
cover, so you can actually see the product. Opening the box revealed a well
protected product, sitting in custom cut foam, which looks like the foam sound
treatment that you would find on the walls of a sound room. Nice touch!
Materials used were leather, metal, and some plastic. Quality of materials used
were excellent. And the same can be said for fit and finish. Also included was
owners manual, additional tips, charging cable, and semi-hard zipper case.

I really love the design of the Klipsch Reference X12
neckband, at least mostly. For those that love the neckband design, Klipsch
takes it to the next level. The neckband is real leather, with vibration
alerts. The controls are a solid quality, and the same can be said for the
cables. The actual IEM is also reference quality, using a balanced armature
driver. The downside: the cables do not retract into the neckband when the
headphones are not in use. Instead, they just dangle on your chest. To me, it
sounds like a patent issue. For me, it’s just a small price to pay for much
better quality, look, and sound. Now let’s see how they sound!

Eric Bibb: Why are People Like That-Vocals were really
smooth with nice texture and timbre. Piano sounded natural. Bass had really
nice low end extension and authority. Percussion was really crisp and clean.
Harmonica was really dynamic with good harmonics.Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue-Clarinet was very
smooth with very good resolution to hear the woodiness of the reed and tonguing
technique. Piano sounded very natual. Bassoon had nice extention into the
midbass with good texture. Brass was very dynamic and not too brassy. Flute had
good air. Imaging was quite good and they threw a big soundstage.Earth, Wind and Fire: Let’s Groove-Vocals
were smooth with very good texture and resolution. Percussion was very crisp
and clean and very dynamic. Bass had very good low end extension, with tight
impact and authority. Claps were also very crisp and dynamic. Soundstage had
good depth and was very wide as well.Katy Perry: Dark Horse-Vocals were very natural sounding with very good
resolution of the timbre and texture. Bass had very good low end extension, hit
hard with very good output. Claps were crisp and very dynamic.

Next up is the Westone Um Pro 50 IEM. Let’s face it, not all
professional musicians have rock-star status. Those that don't are still very
talented and provide great entertainment. They just don’t have the deep pockets
as the rock stars, but still need professional quality equipment to do their
job. To answer that call, Westone has the Um Pro series. They are a universal
fit designed for the professional musician. And the Westone Um Pro 50 features
a 5 balanced Armature design.

Features and specs:

·FIVE BALANCED-ARMATURE DRIVERS WITH THREE-WAY CROSSOVER: The UM Pro 50
features five proprietary balanced-armature drivers with a 3-way passive
crossover, and is the flagship In Westone’s line of Universal-Fit In-Ear
Musicians’ Monitors. Thunderous low’s, combine with a rich, detailed mid-range,
and shimmering articulate highs, in a balanced and harmonious presentation that
meets the demands of the biggest names in the music industry, and of the most
discerning music lover.

·THE MOST COMPACT, LOW PROFILE, ERGONOMIC DESIGN IN THE WORLD: Designed
and built to perform in the most demanding environments, the compact,
low-profile, ergonomic design of the UM Pro 50 is incredibly comfortable, and
can be worn for hours and hours. Westone’s silicone and comfort foam ear-tips
enhance the performance of our IEMs by providing superior noise isolation and
ensuring a superb fit.

·TWISTED MMCX AUDIO CABLE: Westone’s professional-quality MMCX Audio
Twisted Cable is manufactured using high-strength, high-flex, ultra-low
resistance tensile wire, which is reinforced with a special aramid fiber.
Twisted to help reduce cable noise and keep the cable light-weight, flexible,
and comfortable, our cable features MMCX Audio Connectors and 3.5mm stereo
plug. Built to withstand the rigors of the road, Westone’s MMCX Audio Cable is
perfect for use on-stage, or for personal listening

The Westone Um Pro 50 came in a great looking printed box,
with it’s features and specs printed on the box. On the front is a clear
plastic window so you can see the IEM’s. Opening the box revealed a well
protected product, held firmly in place by custom cut-out foam. The materials
used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal. The quality of
materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish. They are a musicians
tool, and they look like they would provide years of use doing it. Also
included was a water resistant hard plastic case, additional sized tips, wax
loop and owners manual.

I really like the design of the Westone Um Pro 50. The MMCX
audio cable is very high quality. And if you ever wanted to see what balanced
armature looks like, it’s easy, just look. The monitors have a clear plastic on
the front, and a smoked plastic on the back. This allows you to look in and see
the components used. You may wonder why there’s no in-line mic or controls for
your smartphone and that’s easy to explain. These are designed for professional
musicians. But that also means that we can expect great sound. So, let’s see
how they sound!

Eric Bibb: Why are People Like That-Vocals were silky smooth
with really good texture and timbre. Piano sounded natural. Bass had really
good low end extension, and played well with good authority. Percussion was
really crisp and clean with good impact. Harmonica was extremely dynamic.Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue-Clarinet was
really smooth, with plenty of resolution to hear the woodiness of the reed and
tonguing technique. Piano sounded extremely natural. Bassoon had good depth and
definition of the timbre. Brass was extremely dynamic and not overly brassy.
Flute had very good air. Sound was a bit warm overall, imaging was very good,
and they threw a big soundstage. Earth, Wind and Fire: Let’s Groove-Vocals were
very natural and smooth sounding with excellent timbre and texture. Bass was
very deep, very clean, and hit like a sledge hammer with lots of authority.
Claps were very crisp and very dynamic. Percussion was also really crisp and
clean, and dynamic. Sound stage was pleasantly deep and very wide. Katy Perry:
Dark Horse-Vocals were silky smooth with excellent resolution of the timbre and
texture. Bass had very good low end extension, that was clean, and hit hard.
Claps were crisp and very dynamic.

Next up is the Ultimate Ears UE ll Pro. This model I am
particularly excited for. As an avid car audio fan, I tend to be a bit of a
bass head. So I like a lot of bass. The Ultimate Ears UE ll Pro appears to have
that covered. They are a custom IEM with a 4-way design. This means that in
addition to the standard highs, mids, and bass design, where there is a driver
dedicated to each of those frequencies, there is also a dedicated subwoofer,
with a driver dedicated to deep lows.

The Ultimate Ears UE ll Pro came in a simple yet elegant black
box. On the side of the box was a white rectangular sticker that showed my
name, the model number, the serial number, and an employees initials that is
passed quality control. Opening the box, the owners manual was sitting on top,
and a white thank you note. Nice touch. Under the note and manual, I saw an
aluminum tin cylinder that was sitting in a custom cut out that was covered in
black silky cloth. On top of the tin was the UE logo, and my name engraved on
it. Another nice touch. Opening the tin, I saw a soft cloth bag that was holding
the custom IEM. At the bottom of the tin was a wax loop. Opening the bag, I saw
the custom IEM. Materials used was mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of
materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish.

When it comes to the design of custom IEM’s, it doesn’t get
much better than that. To get the sound from a pair of IEM’s you need a good
seal. That’s where it all starts with custom IEM’s: a trip to an Audiologist.
There you will need to get custom moldings made. These can be made a couple of
different ways. The old school way is to have silicon squeezed into your ears,
wait a few minutes for the mold to harden, and then pull it out. The molding is
then sent to Ultimate Ears, where they will use it to make your custom IEM. The
other way is the newer, more modern way that not all doctors are using yet.
That is to use a computer and a handheld scanner, and scan the inside of your
ear to make a digital map. This digital file is sent to Ultimate Ears, for them
to use to make your custom IEM.

The next step is to order your custom IEM. Since they are
made especially for you, you can also customize it, with different colors and
designs. I went with a clear plastic for the body, to more easily see all of
the internal components. The top end piece I went with a clear blue, with the
UE logo. It came out looking really cool! And since they are custom fit exactly
in my ears, I get the best fit for the best sound. And speaking of sound, let’s
see how they sound!

Eric Bibb: Why are People Like That-Vocals were silky smooth
like honey, with excellent texture and timbre. Piano sounded so natural. Bass
was really deep, and played with excellent authority. Percussion was so crisp
and clean, with excellent resolution and impact of the drums and cymbals.
Harmonica was so dynamic. Soundstage had good depth and was really wide. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue-clarinet was
extremely silky smooth with excellent resolution of the woodiness of the reed
and tonguing technique. Piano was extremely natural sounding with great
harmonics. Bassoon had nice midbass extension, output and texture. Brass was
extremely dynamic and not overly brassy or edgy. Flute was very airy. Imaging
was spot on, and soundstage had great depth and width.Earth, Wind and Fire: Let’s Groove-vocals
were as smooth as honey, with excellent resolution of the timbre and texture.
Bass was incredibly full, very deep, and hit like a sledge hammer with ton of
authority. Percussion was really crisp and clean and dynamic. The claps were
also extremely clean and dynamic. Imaging was spot on, sound stage had good
depth and was really wide.Katy Perry:
Dark Horse-Vocals silky smooth with excellent resolution for the texture and
timbre. Bass was nothing short of massive, with excellent depth and hit like a
juggernaut! Claps were also really clean and dynamic.

Last but not least is the Westone ES80. Westone has been
doing audio products for over 50 years. All of this experience has provided
some extensive know how in creating excellent products. The best of which is
their Elite Series. They have a new eight driver IEM design, and their best of
the best is the custom version which is their new flagship model, the Westone
ES80. MSRP starts at $1,899, before any customization.After customization the review model came to
$2,187.

Features and specs:

·Westone Custom-Fit Technology
Fully custom earpieces are cast, sculpted, and polished by hand from actual
impressions of your ears, resulting in the best fit and acoustic seal possible.

The Westone ES80 came shipped in an excellent water
resistant plastic case. On the front of the case is a custom printed label with
the Westone logo, my name, serial number, and manufacture date. Opening the
case showed off the excellent Westone E580’s sitting in cut-out foam molding.
Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal. Quality
of materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish. It’s their top of
the line product and it shows. Also included was the owner’s manual, a cloth
carry case, cleaning tool, a tube of oto-ease, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and
an extra cable.

I love the design of the new Westone ES80. The body is made
of hard acrylic for durability, and the bottom section that actually goes into
the ear cable is actually a silicone, so it got a little softer as it warms up,
to give you more comfort and a better seal. The tuning has also changed to a
more audiophile neutral sound. And there’s something about having custom IEM’s
that are made custom fit to your ears. It is just so cool. It reminds me of the
scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, where he’s talking about the Ferrari. I
think Ferris said it best, “It is so choice.If you have means, I highly recommend it.” The same is true of the
Westone ES80.

Ordering the Westone ES80 was simple. There are tons of
options in styles, colors and face plates. I opted for the silver, and pacifica face plate. The
silver looks like pieces of silver in the body, and the pacifica looks like a shell. Very cool
looking. Once you decide on the look, you print out your design, and find an
audiologist. Westone has an extensive list that they work with. Print out your
design, pay for it, and bring your design sheet with you to the audiologist,
who will ship your design to Westone along with the ear impressions. And
Westone’s website also walks you through the whole process. Once they are built
in Westone’s facility in Colorado,
they get shipped to you. Now let’s see how they sound.

Eric Bibb: Why are People Like That-Vocals were so silky
smooth like honey, and the texture and timbre are excellent. Piano sounded very
natural. Bass had excellent depth and played with excellent authority.
Percussion was crisp and clean with excellent impact. And dynamics that had to
be heard to be believed. Harmonica also so clean with excellent dynamics.
Soundstage had good depth and really wide.Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue-Clarinet was silky smooth with excellent
resolution to hear the woodiness of the reed and tonguing technique. Piano was
extremely natural sounding, very dynamic, provided excellent low level
harmonics. Bassoon had excellent midbass extension and texture. Brass was
smooth, extremely dynamic without being edgy, and not too brassy. Imaging was
spot on, and the soundstage was both deep and wide.Earth, Wind and Fire; Let’s Groove-Vocals
were as smooth as a Dove chocolate bar, with excellent resolution of the
texture and timbre. I felt like I was right there in the recording studio. The
realism was just bananas. Bass was good and full, with great impact and
authority. Percussion was crisp and clean with good dynamics. Claps were also
crisp and very dynamic. Imaging was spot on. Soundstage was deep and very wide.Katy Perry; Dark Horse-Vocals were so silky
smooth, with excellent resolution of the texture and timbre. Bass was very
deep, really clean, and hit like a sledge hammer with excellent output. Claps
were also really crisp and dynamic.

The IEM’s for the most part performed as I expected. As you
went up in price, the better the sound, and resolution. The exception would be
the Creative Aurvana Trio. A hybrid 3-way design with dual balanced armatures
and a dynamic woofer, has an MSRP of only $149. They performed so well for
their price point, they aren’t a bargain…they’re a steal. The Klipsch Reference
X12 Neckband has an overall neutral sound with sound equal to their styling.
The Westone UM Pro 50 has a sound that is a bit on the warm side overall, with
the performance that musicians expect. The Ultimate Ears UE 11 Pro takes aural
bliss to a whole new level. They are an overall neutral sound with excellent
resolution, and dedicated subwoofers for exceptional bass performance that had
me grinning from ear to ear. And just when I thought the sound couldn’t get any
better, it did with the Westone Elite Series ES80. Using eight drivers, four of
which are for the highs, I would have expected the sound to be overly bright.
But the sound is actually neutral, and the realism and resolution is bananas,
and has to be heard to be believed! Based on their design features, quality,
and performance, the Creative Aurvana Trio has earned our Value award, the
Klipsch Refernace X12 Neckband and Westone UM Pro 50 has earned our Highly
Recommended award, and the Ultimate Ears UE 11 Pro and Westone ES80 has earned our
Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their
websites at www.us.creative.com, www.klipsch.com, pro.ultimateears.com, and
www.westone.com.